Device For The Transfer Of A Medium

ABSTRACT

The device for the transfer of a medium comprises a magazine having two main faces ( 17 ) of which one is adapted to cooperate with a container and a lateral face ( 18 ) extending between said main faces ( 17 ) as well as at least one sliding valve ( 3 ) housed in a cavity of said magazine ( 2 ) and in which there is formed a transfer duct ( 59 ) for said medium which issues on said face ( 17 ) adapted to cooperate with said container, said valve ( 3 ) having a closed position in which it sealingly isolates said duct ( 59 ) from said container and an open position in which said duct ( 59 ) is placed in communication with said container; said valve ( 3 ) comprising a valve member ( 40 ), an isolation sleeve ( 41 ) surrounding at least partially said valve member ( 40 ) as well as spring means ( 58 ) adapted to be compressed by said valve member ( 40 ) when said valve ( 3 ) is in its open position.

The present invention concerns the transfer of media, such as liquids,into or from a container.

It is especially important, in particular in the field of pharmaceuticsand biotechnologies, to be able to take off samples to analyze them, forexample to perform microbiological verifications in culture tanks, forcounting cells, for chemical analysis, etc.

Such taking off must be performed while minimizing as much as possiblethe risks of contamination of the taken-off sample and of the mediumfrom which the sample is taken off.

A device is already known, in particular from the United States patentU.S. Pat. No. 7,293,477, for the transfer of a medium into or from acontainer comprising a magazine having two main faces of which one isadapted to cooperate with the container and a lateral face extendingbetween the main faces as well as several sliding valves housed incavities of the magazine. In each valve there is formed a duct fortransfer of the medium which issues at the face cooperating with thecontainer, each valve having a closed position in which it sealinglyisolates that duct from the container and an open position in which thatduct is placed in communication with the container.

Each duct also communicates via an end-piece and a flexible tube with abag for transferring the medium from the container to the bag.

To make each valve pass from its closed position to its open position,the operator presses on a tab of that valve to unlock it from themagazine and make it slide along a portion made of elastomer of thatmagazine in order for it to occupy its open position. In this position,the end portion of the valve projects within the container, so placingthe duct of that valve in communication with the container. To pass thevalve back to its closed position, the operator pulls on it to make itslide in the opposite direction.

The invention aims to provide a device that is also adapted to enablethe transfer of a medium, but more economically, more practically, andwith better performance.

To that end it provides a device for the transfer of a medium into orfrom a container comprising a magazine having two main faces of whichone is adapted to cooperate with said container and a lateral faceextending between said main faces as well as at least one sliding valvehoused in a cavity of said magazine and in which there is formed atransfer duct for said medium which issues on said face adapted tocooperate with said container, said valve having a closed position inwhich it sealingly isolates said duct from said container and an openposition in which said duct is placed in communication with saidcontainer; characterized in that said valve comprises a valve member, anisolation sleeve surrounding at least partially said valve member aswell as spring means adapted to be compressed by said valve member whensaid valve is in its open position.

In the device according to the invention, the sleeve (providing sealingwith the magazine) and valve member (opening or closing the valve)arrangement makes it possible in particular to obtain better sealingthan in the device of the prior art.

This is because in the device of the prior art the sealing with themagazine is provided by a part moving in sliding translation (the bodyof the sliding valve) whereas in the device according to the inventionthese two functions are dissociated, the only function of the valvemember being to open or close the valve whereas sealing with themagazine is provided by the non-moving isolation sleeve which ensuressealing of better quality (less risk of leakages between the valve andthe magazine) since the surfaces of the sleeve are in non-slidingcontact with the magazine.

Furthermore, the fact that spring means are provided for the valve withthose spring means being compressed when the valve is open enables thevalve to be held in its closed position until it is actuated and todispense with the locking means of the prior art device which enablesthe dimensions of such a device to be minimized and to free considerablespace in which to place, in a magazine of the same diameter as that ofthe prior art device, more valves (so increasing the number points fortake-off from the container).

Lastly, the presence of spring means enables automatic return of thevalve to its closed position without additional manipulation once thetransfer has been carried out which not only makes such a device moresure but also gives it better performance.

It is to be noted that still other types of transfer devices existcomprising a magazine, such as the device described in European patentEP 0 858 589, such devices having a needle intended for perforating aseptum. The device according to the invention enables such needles to bedispensed with and thus also makes that device simpler, more ergonomicand cheaper.

According to features that are preferred for reasons of simplicity andconvenience for both manufacture and use, said duct also issues on saidlateral face.

The issuing of the transfer duct on the lateral surface of the magazine,that is to say radially relative to the direction of sliding of thevalve member in the sleeve, makes it possible to leave free the oppositeface of the magazine to that which cooperates with the container tothereby have easy access to the valve member in order to be able toactuate it and make the valve pass from its closed position to its openposition.

The exploitation of the lateral surface of the magazine to form theoutlet from the duct also contributes to making such a device morecompact by optimizing the set of available useful surfaces.

According to still other preferred features, said cavity is open at theopposite main face to that adapted to cooperate with said container.

This opening thus directly gives access to the valve member so makingits actuation simple and easy.

According to still other preferred features, said sleeve comprises atleast one elastically deformable portion forming said spring means.

By fulfilling the spring function, the elastically deformable portion ofthe sleeve makes it possible to greatly simplify the manufacture andreliability of such a device since it is not necessary to add anothercomponent to the valve to provide the elastic return of the valve memberto the closed position.

According to still other preferred features:

-   -   in said closed position of the valve, a space is present between        said magazine and said elastically deformable portion of said        sleeve, said space being at least partially occupied by that        portion in its compressed state when the valve is in its open        position.    -   said valve member has a head in sealing contact with said sleeve        in the closed position and away from said sleeve in the open        position, a shank and a body linked to the opposite end of the        shank to that linked to the head; and/or    -   the body of said valve member is in abutment with said spring        means in said open position and, on the opposite end to said        surface in abutment with said spring means, has an actuating        surface for passing said valve from its closed position to its        open position.

According to still other preferred features, said shank has a portion insealing contact with said sleeve and a portion without contact with saidsleeve.

The presence of a valve member portion in contact with the sleeve and aportion without contact makes it possible not only to provide sealingbetween the valve member and the sleeve but also to leave a spacebetween that valve member and that sleeve to form a part of the transferduct for the medium.

According to still other preferred features:

-   -   the device also comprises means for actuating said valve to make        it pass from its closed position to its open position;    -   said actuating means are adapted to hold said valve in its open        position;    -   said actuating means are rotatably mounted on said magazine;    -   said actuating means comprise a manipulating wheel provided with        a nipple for actuating said valve,    -   said nipple has a curved surface and a flat surface.    -   said magazine has indexing means and said manipulating wheel has        complementary indexing means adapted to index said manipulating        wheel relative to said magazine in a position in which said        nipple presses against said valve member and in a position in        which it is away from said valve member;    -   said actuating means comprise a projection movable in a track        formed in a wall of said magazine, a rotatably mounted ring on        said magazine adapted to drive the movement of said projection        in said track to place it facing said valve member to actuate,        as well as a button adapted to actuate said valve member via        said projection; and/or    -   said magazine comprises several cavities in each of which is        accommodated a corresponding valve, said cavities being disposed        around the center of said magazine.

The features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description, given by way of preferred and non-limitingexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are two perspective views taken from different angles of adevice according to the invention and on which the nine valves which itcomprises are represented in their closed position;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation of that device;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view in perspective of that device;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view in elevation of that device taken on lineV-V of FIG. 3 in which the valve which is in cross-section isrepresented in its closed position;

FIG. 6 is a similar view to FIG. 5, but in which that valve isrepresented in its open position;

FIGS. 7 to 9 are respectively a view in perspective, a plan view takenfrom below and a cross-section view in elevation on line IX-IX of FIG. 8illustrating an actuating manipulating wheel that this device comprises;

FIG. 10 is a cross-section view in elevation of that device fixed to thewall of a container to which a take-off bag is connected;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of second embodiment of the deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a similar view to FIG. 11, but for which some parts of thedevice have not been shown; and

FIG. 13 is an elevation view of that device in cross-section along amedian plane of symmetry.

The transfer device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 comprises a magazine2, nine valves 3, an actuating manipulating wheel 4 as well as anindexing finger 5 (FIG. 4).

As illustrated in FIG. 10, this device 1 is to be assembled (for exampleby screwing or latching) via a seal 7 to a coupling 8 which is formed onthe wall 9 of a container 10 and in which an opening (not visible) isformed to enable each of the nine valves of the magazine to be place incommunication with the inside of the container.

Each valve is also associated with a bag 72 provided to receive themedium coming from the container (for example a liquid), each bag beingconnected the magazine 2 by a tube 71.

The magazine 2 of the transfer curve comprises a body 15 having two mainfaces 16 and 17 (FIG. 4) and a lateral face 18 linking said main facestogether.

The body 15 is of plastics material and has a general form that iscylindrical with the exception of a recess 19 separating on one side acollar 20 which delimits the face 17 and which is adapted to cooperatewith the coupling 8 of the container and a cylindrical portion 21adapted to cooperate with the manipulating wheel 4.

In the body there are formed a central cavity 25, nine lateral cavities26 disposed side by side in a circle, concentrically about the cavity 25and approximately half way between the center of the magazine and itsperiphery, as well as a cavity 27 situated at the edge of that body.

Cavity 25 (and respectively 27) only issues at face 16, by an opening 30(and respectively 31).

Each cavity 26 issues from face 16 by an opening 32, from face 17 by anopening 33 (FIG. 2) and from the lateral face by an opening 34.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, each cavity 26 is delimited by a firsthollow portion 35, a second hollow portion 36 of smaller inside diameterthan the inside diameter of the first portion 35 and a hollow portion 37extending in the direction of face 17 and flaring as it does so.

Each valve comprises a valve member 40 and a sealing sleeve 41.

The valve member is of thermoplastics material and the sleeve is formedfrom an elastomer material, that is to say that it is elasticallydeformable and enables sealing to be provided both with the valve member40 and with the magazine 2.

The valve member 40 comprises a body 42, a shank 43 and a head 44.

The body 42 is a solid bar of outside diameter substantially equal tothe inside diameter of portion 35 of the cavity and, at its top, at theopposite end from the head 44, comprises a bowl-shaped recess 45 adaptedto receive, as will be seen below, an actuating nipple comprised by themanipulating wheel.

Shank 43 comprises a first cylindrical portion 47, a second cylindricalportion 48 of smaller diameter than the diameter of portion 47 andattached to that first portion at the opposite end to the body 42.

Lastly, the head is in the form of a frusto-conical collar and connectsto the cylindrical portion 48 at the opposite end to portion 47.

The sleeve 41 comprises a first tubular portion 50 and a flared portion51 respectively espousing the inside surface of the hollow portion 36 ofthe magazine and that of the flared portion 37.

The tubular portion 50 of the sleeve comprises an opening 52 providedapproximately half way between its edges.

This sleeve is engaged in the corresponding cavity 26 of the magazinewith the conical portion 51 coming into abutment against the conicalportion 37 of the magazine and the tubular portion 50 accommodating inthe hollow portion 36 of the cavity with a part 58 of that tubularportion projecting from that cavity inside the hollow portion 35, suchthat there is play 55 between that portion 58 and the portion 35 of themagazine (FIG. 5), that play, as will be seen below, enabling thedilation of that portion of the sleeve 41 when the sleeve is compressed.

Once the sleeve has been engaged, the opening 52 of that sleeve issituated facing the corresponding opening 34 of the magazine (FIGS. 5and 6).

In addition to sealing with the head 44 of the valve member, the sleeve41 also provides sealing with the tubular portion 47 of that valvemember as well as the sealing with portion 36 of the magazine 2.

The valve member 40 accommodates in the sleeve with the body 42 beingdisposed against the edge of part 58 of the tubular portion 50. Portion47 of the shank 43 is in sealing contact with portion 50 at its part 58whereas portion 48 is away from portion 50 within the latter, such thatit delimits a space with that portion 50 enabling the passage of themedium to transfer.

Cavity 26, valve member 40 and sleeve 41 thus delimit a duct 59 (FIGS. 5and 6) extending from the opening 33 to the opening 34 of the magazine 2and comprising the space situated between the sleeve 41 and the portion48 of the valve member as well as the space situated between the opening52 of the sleeve and the opening 34 of the magazine.

In the closed position of each valve 3 illustrated in FIG. 5, the head44 comes to bear against the flared portion 51 of the sleeve 50 itselfbearing against the magazine so as to provide the sealed isolation ofthe duct 59 with the container.

In this position, the surface of the head 44 turned towards thecontainer is situated at the same level as the surface 17 of themagazine (which in particular makes it possible not to have any obstaclein the vicinity of the opening 33 and thus no risk of having liquidstagnating in the vicinity of that opening, the taking-off from thecontainer then risking not being representative).

In the open position of the valve 3 illustrated in FIG. 6, the head 44of the valve member is away from the flared portion 51 of the sleeve andprojects within the container, so enabling the medium to be transferredto enter the duct 59 by the opening 33 between the head 44 of the valvemember and the portion 51 of the sleeve to exit that duct by the opening34.

The finger 5 illustrated in FIG. 4 comprises a cylindrical portion 56and a conical portion 57 and accommodates in the cavity 27 of themagazine, a spring being disposed at the innermost end of that cavity(not shown on the drawings).

The manipulating wheel 4 is described next with reference to FIGS. 7 to9.

This manipulating wheel 4 comprises a back 60 and a collar 61 radiallysurrounding that wall, a journal 62 and actuating nipple 63.

This manipulating wheel also comprises an annular rib 70, projectingfrom the back wall on the same side as the collar 61, in which there areformed eighteen regularly spaced blind indexing holes 69.

The collar 61 comprises nine wall segments 68 linked together and eachcomprising an outwardly directed concave face 64 facilitating thegrasping of that manipulating wheel by the fingers of the operator.

The nipple 63 has a curved surface 65 and a flat surface 66.

The manipulating wheel 4 is disposed against the face 16 of the magazine2 with the journal 62 being engaged in the central accommodation 25 ofthat magazine such that the manipulating wheel is mounted to rotate onthat magazine.

The eighteen blind holes are each provided to receive the cone 57 of thefinger 5, those eighteen holes thus corresponding to the same number ofrelative indexing positions of the manipulating wheel relative to themagazine.

In nine of those indexing positions, the nipple 63 bears against a valvemember 42, such that the corresponding valve is open. In the other ninepositions, termed waiting positions, the nipple 63 is situated betweentwo valve members 42 such that all the valves are closed, thosepositions alternating with the nine positions in which one of the valvesis open.

Rotating the manipulating wheel thus makes it possible to alternate thepositions in which the valves are open one after the other and thepositions in which all of those valves are closed, so isolating all theducts 59 of the magazine from the inside of the container.

Due to its simplicity, the device 1 is obtained by simple molding of allthe members that constitute it, it thus being possible for the device tobe a single-use (disposable) device for reasonable cost.

This device can withstand strong operating pressure of the order of onebar or even more.

A description will now be given of how to perform a take-off operationfrom a medium, such as liquid, inside a container, in particular withreference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 10.

Prior to the taking-off operations, the device 1 is sealingly fixed tothe coupling of the container as illustrated in FIG. 10, with the finger5 being indexed in a hole 69 corresponding to one of the nine positionsin which all the valves are closed.

To perform a take-off operation into one of the bags 72 (FIG. 10), theoperator acts on the manipulating wheel and turns it clockwise. Duringthis rotation, the rib 70 exerts a force on the cone 57 of the indexingfinger such that the finger is thrust into its cavity 27 so concealingthe hole 69 in which it was housed to enable the manipulating wheel toturn.

The operator continues to turn the manipulating wheel 4 until theindexing finger 5 comes to be accommodated in the neighboring blind hole69 by elastic return of the spring (not shown).

During the movement, the curved surface 65 of the nipple 63 encountersthe body 42 of one of the valve members and comes to press thereon forit to slide until the nipple is accommodated in the recess 45 of thebody 42 (FIG. 6).

The curved surface 65 of the nipple and that of the head 42 facilitatethe engagement of that nipple in the recess 45.

In this position the first of the nine valves 3 is then open so enablingthe liquid to flow through the duct 59 of that valve then through thetube 71 connected to the opening 34 of that duct 59 until it reaches thebag 72 (FIG. 10).

In this position, the body 42 of the valve member is in abutment andbears against the edge of part 58 of the sleeve 41 such that this partof the sleeve is compressed and has a slightly convex shape therebyoccupying a large part of the space 55 which was left free between itand the magazine adjacent portion 55 when that sleeve was at rest (notcompressed).

When the operator passes to the following position and thus separatesthe nipple 63 from that valve member, this compression enables thenatural return of the valve member to its initial position (closedposition) by elastic return of that part 58 of the sleeve.

Once the bag 72 attached to that valve is sufficiently filled, theoperator thus again turns the manipulating wheel 4 in the same directionas earlier until the cone 57 of the finger 5 is disposed in the nextblind hole 69, corresponding to one of the nine positions in which thenipple 63 is disposed between two valve members, all the valves thenbeing in their closed position, which makes it possible to wait beforeperforming the next take-off operation without any valve remaining open.

With the device illustrated here it is thus possible to perform ninetake-off operations successively with, between each take-off operation,a position in which all the valves are closed.

After the filling of each bag, it is possible to retrieve that bag usinga tool (not illustrated) adapted to cut out all while obturating thetube 71 (for example by heating).

If, when the manipulating wheel is indexed to a waiting position, theoperator were to act on the manipulating wheel in the oppositedirection, the flat surface 66 of the nipple 63 would come into abutmentagainst the body 42 of the valve member to prevent the manipulatingwheel from turning further, such that it is made impossible to open avalve again that had already been opened previously, this being to avoidany risk of having the different samples of liquid taken offcontaminated by each other.

Nothing however prevents the return from a position in which a valve isopen to the preceding waiting position since the nipple 63 does not comeinto abutment against a valve member in that case, which thus makes itpossible to perform several successive take-off operations by the samevalve and to close that valve between each take-off operation.

An end of travel abutment rib (not illustrated in the drawings) is alsopresent to prevent turning the manipulating wheel further once all thevalves have been opened, so as not to open the first of those valvesagain by turning the manipulating wheel in the same direction aspreviously.

Another embodiment of the transfer device is illustrated in FIGS. 11 to13.

Generally, for similar members the same references have been used, towhich the number 100 has been added.

The transfer device 101 comprises a magazine 102, a ring 104 and anactuating button 106.

This device also comprises a moveable projection 163 within a track ofclosed outline 167 delimited by the upper portion of the magazine 102(FIG. 12). This moveable projection 163 cooperates with the ring 104such that, when the operator causes that ring to turn, the ring actsdirectly on the projection 163 and causes it to move within the track inorder for that projection to be disposed facing one of the valve members140 to actuate.

That ring 104 also comprises indexing means (not visible) and themagazine comprises complementary indexing means (also not visible) toindex the projection 163 when facing each valve member 140.

When the projection 163 faces the desired valve member, the operatorpresses on the push button 106 in order to bear on the projection 163via a plate 111 in order for that projection to cause the correspondingvalve member to slide towards face 117 and to compress the sleeve 141while at the same time separating the head of that valve member from itssleeve so as to place the inside of the duct 159 of that valve incommunication with the enclosed space from which it is desired to takeoff a sample.

In another embodiment not illustrated, each valve 3 of the device isconnected by a flexible tube not to a single bag but to several bagsarranged in series, those bags filling successively during the transferof the liquid until that liquid occupies the last bag which serves as afilling indicator indicating to the operator that all the preceding bagshave been filled and that he may close the valve.

In another embodiment not illustrated, the spring-forming portion 58 ofthe sleeve is replaced by any other type of spring means such as aspiral spring, the valve member possibly being surrounded by an ‘O’ ringto isolate the spring from the medium to transfer.

In still another embodiment not illustrated, the device has more orfewer than nine take-off points by varying the diameter of the magazineor not.

In still another embodiment not illustrated, the device lacks actuatingmeans such as a manipulating wheel and the access to the valve member isleft free at face 16 to enable the operator to act directly thereon.

Such devices are usable for other media than liquid media, such as a gasto take off for analysis or for any other type of fluid medium.

It is also to be noted that the device according to the invention makesit possible to perform the transfer of a medium not necessarily from thecontainer to the bags but also, for example, from a bag pre-filled withmedium to a container.

The device according to the invention is also intended for transferringa medium into or from any type of container other than a tank, such ascontainers with flexible walls such as a bag or a pipe, a connectorbeing mounted on those containers adapted to cooperate with a magazine.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described andrepresented but encompasses any variant form thereof.

1. A device for the transfer of a medium into or from a container (10)comprising a magazine (2; 102) having two main faces (16, 17; 116, 117)of which one is adapted to cooperate with said container (10) and alateral face (18; 118) extending between said main faces (16, 17; 116,117) as well as at least one sliding valve (3; 103) housed in a cavity(26) of said magazine (2; 102) and in which there is formed a transferduct (59; 159) for said medium which issues on said face (17; 117)adapted to cooperate with said container (10), said valve (3; 103)having a closed position in which it sealingly isolates said duct (59;159) from said container (10) and an open position in which said duct(59; 159) is placed in communication with said container (10);characterized in that said valve (3; 103) comprises a valve member (40;140), an isolation sleeve (41; 141) surrounding at least partially saidvalve member (40; 140) as well as spring means (58; 158) adapted to becompressed by said valve member (40; 140) when said valve (3; 103) is inits open position.
 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized inthat said duct (59; 159) also issues on said lateral face (18; 118). 3.A device according to any one of claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatsaid cavity (26) is open at the opposite main face (16; 116) to that(17; 117) adapted to cooperate with said container (10).
 4. A deviceaccording to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said sleeve(41; 141) comprises at least one elastically deformable portion (58;158) forming said spring means.
 5. A device according to claim 4,characterized in that, in said closed position of the valve (3), a space(55) is present between said magazine (2) and said elasticallydeformable portion (58) of said sleeve (41), said space (55) being atleast partially occupied by that portion (58) in its compressed statewhen the valve (3) is in its open position.
 6. A device according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said valve member (40) has ahead (44) in sealing contact with said sleeve (41) in the closedposition and away from said sleeve (41) in the open position, a shank(43) and a body (42) linked to the opposite end of the shank (43) tothat linked to the head (44).
 7. A device according to claim 6,characterized in that the body (42) of said valve member (40) is inabutment with said spring means (58) in said open position and, on theopposite end to said surface in abutment with said spring means (58),has an actuating surface (45) for passing said valve (3) from its closedposition to its open position.
 8. A device according to any one of claim6 or 7, characterized in that said shank (43) has a portion (47) insealing contact with said sleeve (41) and a portion (48) without contactwith said sleeve (41).
 9. A device according to any one of claims 1 to8, characterized in that it also comprises means (4, 63; 104, 106, 163)for actuating said valve (3; 103) to make it pass from its closedposition to its open position.
 10. A device according to claim 9,characterized in that said actuating means (4, 63) are adapted to holdsaid valve (3) in its open position.
 11. A device according to any oneof claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said actuating means (4, 63) arerotatably mounted on said magazine (2).
 12. A device according to claim11, characterized in that said actuating means comprise a manipulatingwheel (4) provided with a nipple (63) for actuating said valve (3). 13.A device according to claim 12, characterized in that said nipple (63)has a curved surface (65) and a flat surface (66).
 14. A deviceaccording to any one of claim 12 or 13, characterized in that saidmagazine (2) has indexing means (5, 27) and said manipulating wheel (4)has complementary indexing means (69, 70) adapted to index saidmanipulating wheel (4) relative to said magazine (2) in a position inwhich said nipple (63) presses against said valve member (40) and in aposition in which it is away from said valve member (40).
 15. A deviceaccording to claim 9, characterized in that said actuating means (104,106, 163) comprise a projection (163) movable in a track (167) formed ina wall of said magazine (102), a rotatably mounted ring (104) on saidmagazine (102) adapted to drive the movement of said projection (163) insaid track (167) to place it facing said valve member (40) to actuate,as well as a button (106) adapted to actuate said valve member (40) viasaid projection (163).
 16. A device according to any one of claims 1 to15, characterized in that said magazine (2; 102) comprises severalcavities (26) in each of which is accommodated a corresponding valve (3;103), said cavities (26) being disposed around the center of saidmagazine (2; 102).